YouthBuild wins nearly $1 million grant from US Dept. of Labor

NEW BEDFORD — The YouthBuild program in New Bedford received a boost on Friday with the news that it has won a $985,747 federal grant.

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By DON CUDDY

southcoasttoday.com

By DON CUDDY

Posted Sep. 1, 2012 at 12:01 AM

By DON CUDDY

Posted Sep. 1, 2012 at 12:01 AM

» Social News

NEW BEDFORD — The YouthBuild program in New Bedford received a boost on Friday with the news that it has won a $985,747 federal grant.

The award was announced by U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Hilda Solis and part of $75.7 million in grants distributed to YouthBuild nationwide. New Bedford is one of five Massachusetts programs to receive the competitive funding.

The money will to help to fund YouthBuild's activities over the next two years, according to Bruce Morrell, director of People Acting in Community Endeavors (PACE), which oversees the YouthBuild program.

"This is great surprise news," Morrell said. "We had a good proposal, but this is only the third time we've been awarded funds and every year has been a struggle. We've had some state money but have been very fortunate to get support from foundations and individuals in the area."

The New Bedford program, which began in 1990, combines classroom instruction with occupational skills training for youths from 16 to 24, many of whom have dropped out of high school or been involved with the juvenile justice system. "This program gives them a second chance," Morrell said.

Thirty youths are enrolled with YouthBuild after a selection process that involves a six-week orientation followed by a drug test. They are split into two groups, with one spending two weeks in the classroom working on their GEDs while the second group gets job training in the construction field, according to Morrell. Then they rotate.

Over the next year, job training will take place during the gutting and renovation of a house on Jireh Street in the North End.

"This is a house that we bought at auction from the city for $50,000," Morrell said. "It's a beautiful property near the river that the city took for back taxes." The house will be restored and then resold by lottery, he said.

The youth work under the direction of a licensed builder, who also has a training license, Morrell said, and receive a stipend for their work. "We don't expect them to be carpenters or plumbers after a year," he said. "But this is about giving them life skills, like showing up on time and working with others. These are things we take for granted that these kids never had."